Low temperature solid-state synthesis and characterization of uniform YF3 submicroparticles

• Published in: Rare metals 2014-10, Vol.33 (5), p.604-607
• Main Authors: Fang, Hao, Xu, Hua-Lan, Bai, Lin-Jie, Guo, Dong-Dong, Zhong, Sheng-Liang, Lv, Yun-Hai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomaterials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Energy; Materials Engineering; Materials Science; Metallic Materials; Nanoscale Science and Technology; Physical Chemistry
• ISSN: 1001-0521; 1867-7185
• DOI: 10.1007/s12598-014-0230-6

In this paper, submicro-scaled YF 3 particles with uniform rice-like morphologies were facilely synthesized by reacting yttrium nitrate with tetrabutylammonium fluoride via a solid-state reaction process at 50 °C for 12 h. The phase confirmation and morphology of the as-prepared YF 3 particles were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM results reveal that the YF 3 submicroparticles are about 700 nm in length and 260 nm in width. Eu 3+ and Tb 3+ doped YF 3 submicroparticles were also prepared with similar process and their photoluminescence properties were studied. Results demonstrate that the doping of Eu 3+ and Tb 3+ has slight effect on the morphologies of the product. Owing to the small average crystallite size or the low crystallinity of the product, the photoluminescence intensity of the Eu 3+ and Tb 3+ doped YF 3 submicroparticles is very weak. Some characteristic peaks even cannot be observed in the emission spectrum.